Barnaby knew that his friend would be dropping by at some point to check out his room, the other boy still had routine despite all the changes, and he would need the re-assurance of seeing his friend. So for this reason, and this one alone, he was vainly trying to tidy his room. Well by tidy, he was more just shoving everything from the floor into the closet. No-one, not even Charles, was going to make him actually tidy. But he could make an effort to at least pretend he had for the other boys sake.

Charlie knocked his usual triple knock before awaiting permission to enter. The idea of entering without it, even to a friends room, was inconceivable. When permission had been granted he crossed the threshold and critically inspected the room before him "so, so much change, I do not like it!" His sentences were as usual phrased in even number of words. He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked helplessly at his friend "so, so much change!" He then half-smiled when he saw the room looked tidy and nodded approvingly.

Barnaby made a conservative effort not to glance towards the cupboard because he knew the highly perceptive Charles would notice and instantly want to look inside. Instead he offered the other boy a seat on the bed and one of his favourite chocolate bars in the hope to calm him down "I know you do not like the change ... but we are going to be amazing here ... we are going to have the chance to become someone!"

"I am someone - I cannot possible not be someone, because I cannot not exist" Charlie replied with confusion as he happily snacked on the chocolate bar. It always made him feel better to taste the sugary goodness. Even if it was eating snacks between meals. His mother would throw a fit. But he did not care - he wanted sugar, he needed sugar, and that was the end of that "so you really tided?"

"Well kinda" Barnaby replied not wanting to lie to his friend "I made this room tidy ... the rest of the space cannot be attested too. He the smiled innocently and quickly diverting the topic asked "so how about the fact you have a room-mate who is not me? What is he like? Does he pass muster?"

"He is fine - we had to split the room into two with tape - but otherwise fine" Charles replied with a nod as he refused to say anything else on the subject, it was not why he had came, instead he turned directly to the point where he was planning on going later in the evening anyway and where he wanted to go now to save time "I heard what you said to Aurora ..."

"What do you mean? We had a slight altercation but it was nothing" Barnaby replied with a shrug, not really getting what his friend was implying or why he seemed so upset about it. But then he was use to Charles being upset. He got upset easily. "Are we talking about the football pitch?"

"I want you to apologize to her, I am going to ask her to come over, and I want you to apologize" Charles firmly replied with a nod. He did not know why he cared so much. But the idea of one of his friends upsetting the girl who he was hopelessly crushing on did not stand well with him. Pausing to gather his thoughts he added "and make sure it is a good one - maybe get her a gift!"

"I am not going to apologize to her. I don't owe her anything. I am certainly not going to get her a gift" Barnaby retorted with a shake of his head and a snort of laughter at the very idea, as though he assumed, which he did, that Charles must be joking.

"I am serious. If you want to remain my friend then you will apologize. You will also get her a gift. Because you were horrible. You were mean and well she did not deserve that. Because she is good and decent. She is sweet, pretty and everything that is right with the world. So yes. You are going to apologize and you are going to do it nicely. So there!" Charles burbled on until he finally came to a halt and ended his sentence by folding his arms across his chest and frowning at his friend.

Barnaby just stared open mouthed at his friend for the longest pause before finally responding "you really like this girl huh? Here was me thinking you did not even know that girls existed. That or you still thought they had cooties. Well if it means that much to you then alright, I will apologize. Heck I will even buy her a gift and you can come along and make sure I do it properly. Now grab a seat and lets watch die hard."

"Well that is okay then" Charles replied, having expected more resistance, with a slightly confused but pleased air. He dragged a bean bag chair over to the middle of the room. The same one he had used every time he visited Barnaby since they first became friends. The chair had come to Stellar with them. Settling down in the chair he then added "I notice girls, it is just I chose not to objectify them like you. In fact it is not just Aurora who deserves an apology from you. I think it is the entire cheer-leading squad. You made there captain cry, and you insulted there prettiest and best flyer. I think it is only fair if you apologize to the whole squad!"

"The whole squad? You want me to apologize to the entire squad?" Barnaby indignantly retorted with a raised eyebrow and a high pitched tone. He shook his head and frowning slightly swiftly corrected "under no circumstances am I going to be apologizing to the entire cheer-leading squad for an incident which they started in the first place. If they chose to place a child as their captain and then can not handle it when she cries at loud noises, that is not my problem nor is it any reason for me to say sorry."

"Yes I do want you too. Because it was your fault and now your being an idiot about it" Charles informed him as he rose to his feet once more and stood opposite Barnaby just as angry as the other boy. He paused to collect his thoughts before continuing "your being a grade one ass-hole and now you need to get your act together and get over. I have very little time on my timetable and yet I fitted into it coming here and making you see sense. So the least you can do it is see it!"

"The only idiot here is you! Because somehow you have allowed some girl to take you over. What happened to bros over hoes huh?" Barnaby grumpily responded stepping closer and clenching his fists "and you need to get over your desire to follow a time table you obsessive little freak! No wonder your defending Emily and Aurora ... your all one big collection of little freaks aren't you!"

Charles paused for a moment completely frozen with a hurt and angry expression. Then he took all that anger and bringing his fist back slammed it into Barnaby's face as hard as he possible could. He then took a few steps backwards breathing heavily. He then turned away.

An hour later

Barnaby could be found sitting cross legged on the floor, holding his head back, and pinching his nose. A few drips of dried blood could be found on various places on his face. A rather interesting bruise was also already visible other the centre of his nose. He remained in silence for a long pause before quietly stating "I am sorry ..."

"Me too" Charles replied holding one hand tight against his arm where a rather nasty cut was. He was sitting cross legged beside his friend, his gaze fixed on the floor, and he made no further comment as he did not want to go into what had been said or what had just happened. He was barely able to cope with the very idea of thinking about how many germs could be transferred during a fist fight "I am going to need tetanus shot."

"I know - I am sorry" Barnaby replied with a sigh as he finally removed his hand and moved so he was sitting forward again, now his nose had stopped bleeding "I am sorry about all of it. I did not mean it. Your not a freak Charles and neither are your little friends, even Emily. I shall go apologize to the cheer-leading squad for being an ass-hole. It is the least I can do after everything."

"I really hate needles" Charles simply replied with a shake of his head as he still stared at the floor and not at his friend, though he did nod acceptance to the other boys apology.

"Again - I am sorry" Barnaby replied "I know you hate needles - maybe you won't even need a tetanus shot ..."

"I could get some horrible infection. I also hate hospitals. I really hate hospitals and needles. But apparently I have to chose. Between hospital or a needle. Not much of a win win situation is it. Plus no-where on my time table did it give room for this. No-where on my time table was this meant to happen. I ..." Charles trailed off as he swayed back and forth, now in silence, and tried to maintain whatever control over his breathing still remained.

"I know Charles, I know. I have said how sorry I am. There is really not much else I can do. But keep saying how sorry I am. I did not mean any of what I said. I would never intentionally mess up your time-table or hurt you ... now where are you meant to be right now Charles? Where?" Barnaby replied beginning to sound worried as he moved closer to his friend, sensing the signs of an impending panic attack in the other boy.

"Five minuets left of lunch time, where I am meant to be in the cafeteria and then after that I am meant to be in the gym" Charles replied in a breathless tone as he struggled with his emotions and his panic, and his very in built characteristics.

"Then let us get you to the gym in time to get back in track with your time table" Barnaby hastily decided, knowing he was forgive by the other boy, and wanting to make things right for the boy "come on then Charles!" He then took Charles's arm and pulling him up pushed him towards the door and out. He escorted him until Charles was walking by himself and soon the other boy had managed to relax - as soon as he was in the gym at any rate.